‘Can You Keep This Up’ – Derby County Academy Boss Sets Starlet Challenge | OneFootball

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Derby County academy manager Jamie Smith believes the next challenge for Owen Eames will be to maintain his red-hot form at Scottish Premiership side Falkirk.

The 19-year-old came through the Rams’ academy ranks before making his senior debut under John Eustace in January.

Derby are counting on Eames as part of their long-term plans, but with regular opportunities at Pride Park not guaranteed, the club opted to send the midfielder to Falkirk on a season-long loan during the summer window.

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The move is already proving fruitful, with Eames finding the net once and providing an assist across his opening three appearances for the Scottish outfit.

The Englishman has also been deployed out of position on the left side of midfield rather than in his natural attacking midfield role, although the change has done little to reduce his influence for Falkirk.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn has been full of praise for the midfielder, recently hailing Eames as ‘different class’.

Smith has now offered his assessment of Eames’ performances during his spell in Scotland.

The academy manager revealed that the club had received plenty of interest in Eames following his first-team exposure, while Falkirk and the Scottish Premiership were viewed as an appealing environment for his development, particularly given the midfielder’s need for regular senior football.

Smith also highlighted Eames’ productive start to life on loan, but stressed that the next challenge will be sustaining those levels after the international break, continuing to deliver goal involvements and putting himself in a position to return to Pride Park as a first-team player.

Smith said on Rams TV (5.31): “We had plenty of enquiries because of how well he’s done, and the coverage that we’ve given Owen with the first team, probably since October, November last season.

“And we felt Falkirk, the Scottish Premiership, the history or, most recent history of playing young players, because that’s really important for the loans, some won’t play all the time and have a positive experience, but I think Owen was at the point where he needed senior football, safe to say, started unbelievably well for him.

“The next challenge is can you keep this up after the international break and keep hitting the figures, that he needs to hit in terms of goals, assists, he’s out of position, which is outstanding for him anyway.

“And set himself up ready for when he comes back, he becomes a first team player, which is still the objective for him and does as a football club.”

Falkirk currently sit eleventh in the Scottish Premiership and will be hoping Eames can continue to contribute as they look to climb away from the bottom end of the table.

The Bairns’ next assignment after the international break will see them welcome Dundee to the Falkirk Stadium.